We empower individuals and strengthen our workforce by expanding access to education at every level. In 2024 alone, we estimate that we supported more than 60,000 individuals in pursuing education by providing comprehensive support and scholarship funding as well as exposure to training and upskilling programs for in-demand fields like health care and technology.
The transformative power of higher education is undeniable. College graduates in the U.S. earn 66% more than their non-graduate peers, significantly reducing their risk of poverty and reliance on social services. We believe this opportunity should be accessible to all.
Since 1999, we’ve partnered with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Foundation, sharing their commitment to affordable, high-quality education that empowers students and strengthens Pennsylvania communities. PASSHE serves a significant number of low-income, minority, and first-generation students.
Our long-standing commitments are embodied in our support of PASSHE’s scholarship program, which we have supported since 2009. It is designed to cultivate a highly skilled workforce and address Highmark Health’s ongoing need for talented professionals.
“Ninety-four percent of Highmark Bright Blue Futures Scholars graduate or continue their education,” says Shelley Scherer, PASSHE president and CEO, highlighting the programs profound impact. “Highmark is our largest corporate scholarship provider.”
Beyond scholarships, we are partnering with PASSHE on a new imitative to increase access to work-based learning opportunities. Launched in 2024, this three-year pilot program, engaging 1,000 students, integrates real-world experiences and case studies into academic curricula. This innovative collaboration involves our data and analytics team, that is developing cutting-edge case studies on AI and technology specifically for Slippery Rock and Shippensburg Universities. Professors in the computer science department at the respective universities were matched with our employees to co-create the case studies.
“We’re very excited about this partnership,” said Scherer. “This is a really different approach and there is a great deal of enthusiasm around faculty and business leaders working together. We look forward to scaling this pilot across the State System.”
Our collaboration with PASSHE is not just providing scholarships; it’s building a more skilled workforce and a more prosperous Pennsylvania.
